Awning rattle driving me crazy!

[Detritus]

Hi all,

I have an awning rattle and it’s driving me crazy!
I know there are posts on how to adjust the awning arms, but I can’t find any that actually tell me what bits I need to adjust and in what direction, just photos that doing specify what to turn in what direction to do what. I’m sure I’m missing something and my brain is failing me - but we’re off on Sunday and I’m desperate to solve it . Can anyone post an idiot’s guide with photos showing the exact bit’s to adjust and how to adjust them please (or point me at one)?
I’ve already bought and fitted the new clips that replace the old bits of glued on rubber - but they have done nothing to reduce it, exactly the same. I think it’s either the front/outer casing tapping against the main body (it’s slightly looser at the front for some reason) , or it’s the arms bouncing inside the casing. Only happens when I go over bumpy bits of road, but then the van sounds like an old dust cart!

Thank you for your patience and tolerance!

Jez

 

[Kev56]

I feel for you, i drove for weeks with the rattle really really annoying. I referred to this forums suggestions, spoke to fellow drivers etc. it seemed to be coming from inside the a/ b pillar.
Driving one day with window open, the rattle was obviously the awning, arm out the window and pressing the casing towards the van proved the point. I looked at the arm adjustment ideas and that didn't seem like that was the issue. Eventually and even now i wind in the awning to the point where it seems like its too much. End of rattle.

 

[Sad]

Hope these help:
Thread 'Roofmechanism rubber padding failure' https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/roofmechanism-rubber-padding-failure.26567/

Thread 'Awning Rattle Sorted' https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/awning-rattle-sorted.50786/

 

[Detritus]

Thank you both, will have another look in the morning!

 

[pjm-84]

10years for me........ if its constant like a maracas, its the front mount.

Green strips are draft excluders. Stopped the noise dead for 3 months after a constant hammering to my right ear. But the weight of the awning caused it to start again (so a thicker or denser product would be better). It was bliss whilst it lasted. Ignore the top tape / this is not required as the awning is a wedge fit into a small channel (so cant move).

As the noise started again, I cut a store card and shimmed it at the bottom (cut out a V notch to miss the fixing )....noise gone again

Awning is a PITA to replace on your own and awkard. Easy to remove

 

[pjm-84]

Isolates the metal to metal contact with the flex in the rear casing and the single fixing onto the bracket - oddly the rear mount doesn't make a noise

 

[Detritus]

Right - it seems to be the arms bouncing inside the case - been testing on bumpy roads and holding the case to make sure it’s not the ‘front/outercasing’ not wound in enough - and I can feel the send bouncing against it inside…
See the two photos - the top bracket has a lot of play on both ends - I assume it’s to let the swing arms come out and down - but is this much play normal? What bit do I tighten if not - the top of the two ‘horizontal’ nuts, or the small bolt that is coming out of the face?

 

[Detritus]

I’ve just tightened up that top horizontal bolt so that there is no play, taken it for a bumpy drive and it seems to have cured it! That top bolt has always been looser on both front and back, is that not normal?

 

[Hawthorn37]

Glad that you’ve solved it. As the awning is stuck on the side of a 2 ton vehicle riding over speed bumps, potholes and rough surfaces, it’s no wonder bolts can work loose. Anytime I come across a loose bolt/ nut I use a drop of blue Loctite to prevent a recurrence.

 

[pjm-84]

Top bolt hole is slotted. This allow vertical movement when the awning is out. However it does appear to have a nylon insert so no metal on metal contact. I wonder if yours was too loose.

 

[SY101]

I went round a similar loop for ages, for us this was the solution. Two pieces of non slip matting wrapped around each leg as you tuck it away. Hopefully the picture makes sense.

 

[Calidays]

Hello, I wonder whether I might be able to ask for some advice on my awning. It has a rattle and my previous Van did not have the same rattle. I have spent quite a lot of time putting in shock absorbing pads throughout the whole length of the awning. I’ve taken it back under warranty two times and VW have just fobbed me off saying it’s just like that or it’s better now they opened it and closed it again. I have also tightened up the torque screws at the end of the awning. I noticed that the roller at one end is rattling/moving and the other end is quite solid without movement up and down (just enough to clonk). I wondered whether this is normal behaviour in other peoples awnings. The rattling on one end of the internal roller seems to be exactly what the noise is that I’m hearing. It’s like that and is not quite tight enough. I wondered whether anyone else can feel some play on one end of the roller but not the other? I’ve posted a photo of the area that is wrestling on the front of the van. When I bought the van the front moulding was cracked so I wonder whether they replaced it and maybe it took a hit from something which has affected it. VW may have just replaced the moulding but not done anything about the internal damage. thanks very much for any advice anyone can give me.

 

[Davilu]

Is the rattling noise being made when you are driving along? I had a rattling noise in my Thule awning casing when driving. I discovered that the Locking Clip/Tension arm clips for both folding arms or rafters had moved so the arms weren’t secured in position and causing the rattle.

The clips are there to tightly secure the folded arms inside the cassette housing so they don’t vibrate or move during transport. For some reason they can be easily moved from left to right. If they are inadvertently moved out of place the arms don’t clip in as you close the awning and this causes the arms to rattle.

I was able to slide the clips until they were in the right position, about 25mm in from each arm hinge. I did this by opening the awning just enough to reach into the housing but with the arms still almost fully folded. I was then able to slide the clips into the right position by trial and error. No more rattles! Please see picture of the clips below.

 

[Calidays]

Thanks very much. I have these clips and I’ve tried to move them but they are around the centre of the awning where the hinges are. The rattling seems to be coming from the end where I pointed out with my finger. The roller is moving about on one end and it seems very secure on the other end which makes me think there’s something wrong on one end but I don’t know if that play is present on other peoples awnings. I guess I could ask them to open up an awning in the showroom but I’m not sure if they’ve got any 6.1 California is still there.

 

[Davilu]

Just had a quick look at my awning in the area you are pointing. There’s no movement of the bracket or the roller. Perhaps try removing the end cap to have a look. I think it’s held on with a single torx screw - see pics below

 

[Calidays]

Yes, I’ve removed the screw but I couldn’t get the end cap off and I didn’t want to force it. It’s great to know that you don’t have that play in the end of your roller so there must be a problem.

 

[willwander]

My roller moves about and yes it rattles and yes it’s annoying. Not really figured out away of fixing it, maybe buying replacement parts 9 and 18 ?

 

[Calidays]

My roller moves about and yes it rattles and yes it’s annoying. Not really figured out away of fixing it, maybe buying replacement parts 9 and 18 ?

Ah right! I wonder if we both have a problem or is this just how it is and VW are right? I hope not…

 

[pjm-84]

Mine, after my fix, is rattle free....

 

[Calidays]

Mine, after my fit, is rattle free....

Thanks very much. I was trying to work out exactly what you did. I wonder whether you had the same rattle as I did from the front part of the roller that was rattling up and down? I think you said you put in a card of some kind, but I can’t quite work out exactly what you did!

 

[pjm-84]

The front awning bracket -

Awning drops onto it and is then held by a screw. The faces between the awning and bracket are not perfect and the awning metal flexes with movement.

Apply the sealing strips removes the metal on metal contact and provide a better mating surface between the awning and bracket ( top tape is not required - just the compressible green strips)

 

[pjm-84]

Just re-read my post

Bottom sealing strip needs to be slightly thicker / wider to cover the seating face . Was just catching after compression.

 

[Calidays]

Just re-read my post

Bottom sealing strip needs to be slightly thicker / wider to cover the seating face . Was just catching after compression.

Thanks for your explanation. The Green strips are placed in the middle of the awning or on the end where you take the black and cap off? I can’t quite work it out from your photo. I presume somehow it stabilises the roller if it’s not at the end so that it doesn’t rattle around.

 

[pjm-84]

You need to remove the awning....heavy and awkward so a two person job ideally....

Apply to the awning bracket as per the mark up below

 

[Calidays]

Thank you. Will built up to this one then.